VII. Freestyle Acrobatics National Rules A. Introduction 1. Purpose and Goals of the Freestyle Acrobatics Program a. All Freestyle Acrobatic activities and events are held indoors in a controlled setting using the typical Gymnastics environment which may include the traditional six men’s apparatus and the traditional four women’s apparatus or any combination thereof. Athletes may also use the accompanying mats and mounting boards associated with traditional gymnastics equipment. Nontraditional gymnastics equipment (such as spotting blocks, stacked mats and adaptive equipment) may also be used so long as they are manufactured by an industry recognized company and in good repair. b. Athletes train and compete under the rules outlined in one of 5 skill levels which restrict both the difficulty of skills and limit equipment heights that athletes may use to navigate their runs. c. The Freestyle Acrobatics Program provides an objective means of evaluating Freestyle Acrobatic runs and jams in a competitive setting and is designed: i. To assure the identification of the finest acrobat in any competition. ii. To guide coaches and acrobats in the composition of competitive runs and jams as defined below. 2. AAU Freestyle Acrobatic Competitions include three types of contests a. Free Run: i. The Free Run requires athletes to navigate through an established course using his / her talents to produce a continuous, fluid, efficient, original combination of movements from at least five of the nine Trick / Movement Families which are permitted in the rules defined by his / her skill level ii. Free Run Courses vary from competition to competition but remain constant for each skill level during any given competition iii. Free Run Courses are designed by the meet director and must adhere to all AAU Freestyle Acrobatic Rules v. Athletes are judged on a scale of 100 points maximum. Points are combined from each of the following categories: 1. Flow ‐ 30 Points 2. Style & Originality ‐ 20 Points 3. Variety ‐ 10 Points 4. Difficulty ‐ 40 Points vi. Free Runs have no minimum time but they may not exceed the time limits established for each skill level vii. All Free Runs will be performed to prerecorded non lyrical music provided by the meet director. Coordinating movements with the music can increase the points acquired in the style and flow categories. b. Speed Run: i. The Speed Run requires athletes to navigate through an established course in an effort to produce the fastest time possible. 49 ii. Speed Run Courses vary from competition to competition but remain constant for each skill level during any given competition iii. Speed Run Courses are designed by the meet director and must adhere to all AAU Freestyle Acrobatic Rules iv. Speed Run Courses have established beginning and ending launch spots and include various “Inclusion Spots” along the run with which the athlete must incorporate into his / her run v. Athletes may receive Bonus Time Shavings (time deducted from the final time) for performing skills which demonstrate difficulty. vi. Athletes will receive Time Penalties (time added to the final time) for performing skills incorrectly, for failing to complete the course, failing to utilize designated “Inclusion Spots” during his / her Speed Run c. Crew Jams (team competition) i. Crew Jams are team or group competitions in either of two divisions: 1. Small Crew = 3 to 6 2. Large Crew = 7 to 15 ii. Crew Jams are between 45 and 75 seconds long 1. Levels 1 through 3 Jams are limited to 60 seconds in length 2. Levels 4 & 5 Jams are limited to 90 seconds in length B. Skill Level Program 1. Participant Rules a. Skill Levels i. There are five levels of skill associated with AAU Freestyle Acrobatics (Levels 1 to 5) with Level 5 serving as the highest level of skill ii. The Athlete’s skill level is determined by his / her coach at the time of entry into an AAU Freestyle Acrobatics Competition iii. Each Athlete must demonstrate Mastery of the skills which he / she has selected for inclusion in his / her competition iv. Each Athlete must possess a level of physical fitness which is appropriate for the level of skill at which he / she is training and competing v. Each skill level includes rules and regulations developed to provide athletes with opportunities to compete with other athletes of the same skill level b. Age Divisions i. The age an athlete will compete is determined by the athlete’s age on the first day of competition for the AAU Age Group National Championships. 50 ii. Meet directors establish age divisions to group athletes with competitors of similar ages and skill levels. The suggested divisions are: ages 7 & younger, ages 8 & 9, ages 10 & 11, ages 12 & 13, ages 14 & 15, ages 16 to 18, and ages 19 and older. 2. Level 1 Rules a. Level 1 is the entry or beginning level of Freestyle Acrobatics b. All Ages may participate in this skill level c. Spotting: Spotters are not required at this level since no salto skills are permitted, however coaches may position themselves wherever they feel it is necessary to provide assistance should an athlete need any d. Restrictions i. Skills 1. Athletes at this skill level may not perform skills which include salto (flipping) skills and giant swings 2. Athletes at this skill level may not perform any head first entry skills involving momentum (no dive rolls) 3. Skills used by athletes in Free Runs, Speed Runs and Crew Jams are limited to skills from the Level 1 skills difficulty category ii. Equipment height is limited (see equipment rules for specifics) iii. Free Runs are limited to 45 seconds maximum 3. Level 2 Rules a. Level 2 is the novice level of Freestyle Acrobatics b. All Ages may participate in this skill level c. Spotting i. Coaches are required to be in a position which is suitable to provide assistance for any salto or giant swing skills that are performed d. Restrictions i. Skills 1. Athletes at this skill level may not perform any skills where flipping and spinning are combined 2. Skills used by athletes in Free Runs, Speed Runs and Crew Jams are limited to skills from the Level 1 and Level 2 skills difficulty categories ii. Equipment height is limited (see equipment rules for specifics) iii. Free Runs are limited to 45 seconds maximum 4. Level 3 Rules a. Level 3 is the intermediate level of Freestyle Acrobatics b. Athletes must have reached their 10th birthday by the age determining date in order to be eligible to participate at this level c. Spotting i. Coaches are required to be in a position which is suitable to provide assistance for any salto or giant swing skills that are performed 51 ii. During the performance of any skill executed from a height greater than that of the athlete’s chest Coaches must also place themselves in a position to provide assistance if necessary d. Restrictions i. Skills used by athletes in Free Runs, Speed Runs and Crew Jams are limited to skills from the Level 1, 2 & 3 skills difficulty categories ii. Equipment height is limited (see equipment rules for specifics) iii. Free Runs are limited to 60 seconds 5. Level 4 Rules a. Level 4 is an advanced level of Freestyle Acrobatics and requires a high level of fitness b. Athletes must have reached their 12th birthday by the age determining date in order to be eligible to participate at this level c. Spotting i. Coaches are required to be in a position which is suitable to provide assistance for any skills which involve a combination of twisting and flipping ii. During the performance of any skill executed from a height greater than that of the athlete’s head Coaches must place themselves in a position to provide assistance if necessary d. Restrictions i. Skills used by athletes in Free Runs, Speed Runs and Crew Jams are limited to skills from the Level 1, 2, 3 & 4 skills difficulty categories ii. Equipment height is limited (see equipment rules for specifics) iii. Free Runs and Crew Jams are limited to 75 seconds 6. Level 5 Rules a. Level 5 is the highest and most advanced level of Freestyle Acrobatics and requires a extremely high level of fitness b. Athletes must have reached their 14th birthday by the age determining date in order to be eligible to participate at this level c. Spotting i. Coaches are required to be in a position which is suitable to provide assistance for any skills which involve a combination of twisting and flipping skill and for any twisting skill above 360 degrees of rotation ii. During the performance of any skill executed from a height greater than that of the athlete’s head Coaches must place themselves in a position to provide assistance if necessary d. Restrictions i. Skills used by athletes in Free Runs, Speed Runs and Crew Jams may be selected from any of the 5 skill difficulty categories ii. Equipment height is limited (see equipment rules for specifics) iii. Free Runs are limited to 75 seconds 52 C. Equipment and Matting 1. Equipment a. Traditional Gymnastics Equipment The equipment used during AAU Freestyle acrobatics competitions and training is the same equipment used by Artistic Gymnasts for competitions and training. Acrobats may utilize the Floor Exercise, Vault Table, Balance Beams, Uneven Parallel Bars, Pommel Horse, Still Rings, Parallel Bars, and Horizontal Bar. b. Non Traditional Gymnastics Equipment Spotting blocks, shape mats, and other similar equipment which is manufactured by a company which supplies the gymnastics industry are also allowed. 2. Landing Surfaces and Matting All landings are required to be performed onto a safe landing surface.